Christiansen, John Charles

Name and Rank, 1st Lieutenant John Charles Christiansen.

Unit/Placed in, 564th Bomber Squadron, 389th Bomber Group (Heavy).

John was born approx. in 1924 in Wayne County, Minnesota.

Father, Clarence Christiansen.

Mother, Jessie (Rivers) Christiansen.

Sister, Mary J. Christiansen.

John entered the service in Detroit with service number # 0-752916.

John’s Crewmembers and their position onboard the B-24j were;

1st Lt. William F. Hunter Pilot

1st Lt. Lee D. Ferryman Co Pilot

1tst Lt. George B. Smith Bombardier

1st Lt. John C. Christiansen Pilot/Bombardier

2nd Lt. Robert N. Kams Navigator

2nd Lt. Howard F. Hoesterey Ass Navigator

T/Sgt. Robert H. Ratchford Engineer

T/Sgt. John S. Merzingo Radio Operator

S/Sgt. Frederick C. Schaffer Top Turret Gunner

S/Sgt. Joseph L.Selser Right Waist Gunner

S/Sgt. Robert W. Sarber Left Waist Gunner

S/Sgt. Robert J. Cannon Nose Turret Gunner

John was Killed in Action when plane was hit by AA and crashed near the town of Greven, Germany, on March 9, 1945, and he is honored with an Air Medal with 2 Oak Leaf Cluster, Purple Heart, Aviator Badge, Good Conduct Medal, American Campaign Medal, Army Presidential Unit Citation, European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, WW II Victory Medal.

John is buried at Netherlands American Cemetery and Memorial, Margraten, Eijsden-Margraten Municipality, Limburg, Netherlands.

Thanks to, http://www.398th.org/

http://guide.8theast.org/389th-bomb-group-memorial-exhibition-hethel/

Jean Louis Vijgen, ww2-Pacific.com ww2-europe.com

Air Force Info, Rolland Swank.

ABMC Website, https://abmc.gov

Marines Info, https://missingmarines.com/ Geoffrey Roecker

Seabees History Bob Smith https://seabeehf.org/

Navy Info, http://navylog.navymemorial.org

POW Info, http://www.mansell.com Dwight Rider and Wes injerd.

Philippine Info, http://www.philippine-scouts.org/ Robert Capistrano

Navy Seal Memorial, http://www.navysealmemorials.com